At the Blazers’ morning
shootaround — before the fine had been decided — Stotts said it wasn’t his place
to step inside a peer’s locker room and tell him what to do with his team.

“One thing I’ve learned in 20 years is everybody’s got to coach their
team by what they feel is best,” Stotts said. “I’m not one to second-guess
coaches in-game management or how they manage their team, because they do what’s
best for their team.”

After hearing about the stiff fine, Rivers offered
even harsher criticism to the fine, saying he “didn’t like” the NBA’s decision.
Rivers said he did not expect the NBA’s fine to prevent him — or other coaches —
from pulling a Popovich in the future.

“Listen, we’ll do it when we want
to do it and we should be able to do it,” Rivers said, before adding, “Whatever
is going to help your team win, a coach is going to do. Because if you don’t and
it hurts your team, then you’re the one who won’t be around. So you’ve got to do
whatever is best for your team.”